growing up

Playing in the park is so fun with L these days! He loves the swings, can't get enough of the slides, and will even chase a soccer ball in the grass for quite some time! We taught him how to kick it, and he just runs and kicks it over and over again. So dang cute! He also has perfect throw-in form. Can't wait for the chance to cheer him on in a game! I included a little video for the sake of grandparents - those smiles are for you guys!

photoshop fun

My sister recently taught me how to use photoshop and I am totally hooked. I just finished working on a few wedding pictures for a book I put together, and here's a few of my favorite before & after pictures:

{note: I tried to keep changes simple, classy, and more traditional than the trendy style of pictures lately. I love the trendy look ... but not so much for my wedding pictures. For my book's purposes, I mostly enhanced the colors.}

{I edited these ones too, but figured including every before/after picture would be way too much. So these are just the after ones}

what I don't do

I read the other day about a woman accused of "doing it all" and how she responded to that statement. She emphasized how she makes a choice to do a lot, but in that choice, she also chooses to not do something else.

I've thought a lot about this concept - and sometimes my life seems paralyzed on the brink because I'm too afraid to make that choice. Nevertheless, I decided to make my own list of things I am choosing to do and not to do. I do this not to sound demoralizing toward myself or others, nor do I want to say that by choosing (and not choosing) these options it somehow makes me better than other women out there. I will be the first to admit that I am far from being better than anyone!! We all make our own choices and therefore live our decisions.There are many women out there who do all these things and more - more power to them! Hopefully we are happy with our lives no matter what we choose.

For instance:

I try to live a simple life doing things that make me happy:

• play on the floor with L a lot
• take regular care of my home
• grow a few flowers in my front yard
• keep a personal history through scrapbooks
• try to plan menus and cook from home more often than not (although I LOVE eating out)
• keep in touch with family/friends through a blog
• sing, dance, and play with R & L
• go on walks/jogs for exercise
• try to build a short-term food storage supply
• read a good book here or there

I also try to keep it simple and not do the following:

• grow a vegetable garden - maybe next spring
• sew / quilt - would love to learn someday
• knit/crochet - same as above
• make elaborate, gourmet meals - I love food, but I like to spend my time doing something else
• long-term food storage - financially not possible yet
• work outside the home - working inside the home in enough for me!
• go shopping a lot - reasons attributed to time and money
• keep an emaculately clean house - I personally like seeing our home be lived in!
• read on a regular basis - my personality type simply wouldn't let me accomplish anything else if I did this
• play team sports - wish I could, but family is #1 right now
• geneology work - I need to focus my time on the present family work for now

After thinking about this list for a while, it really gave me the courage to be happy with who I am rather than comparing myself to other women. I'm glad there's so many women out there who do garden, sew, clean, and work on geneology -- there more there are for me to learn from when the time comes! In the meantime, however, I feel stronger in who I am based on what I do and don't do. Both define me as a person. It helps me want to make those few things that I choose to spend my time on that much better and worthwhile; to get the job done right. Reminds me of a favorite quote of mine:

"Think about your particular assignment at this time in your life. It may be to get an education, it may be to rear children, it maybe to be a grandparent, it may be to care for and relieve the suffering of someone you love, it may be to do a job in the most excellent way possible, it may be to support someone who has a difficult assignment of their own. Our assignments are varied and they change from time to time. Don't take them lightly. Give them you full heart and energy. Do them with enthusiasm. Do whatever you ahve to do this week with your whole heart and soul. To do less than this will leave you with an empty feeling."

-Marjorie Pay Hinckley "Small and Simple Things"

There are many seasons to our lives, and I am determined to give this season my full heart and energy!

good things in life

the element of true surprise

a friend to hold your hand

both found at the Columbus Zoo - what a wonderful world

first hair cut

I finally did it! I broke down and gave L his first haircut ever. It had been getting a little shaggy in multiple areas which included a rat tail down the back of his neck. I didn't get very good before pictures - but these are from when we were at the zoo and he wouldn't hold still and/or turn around to look at me. Enjoy the shagginess while it lasts ...

So I took L out back and strapped him into his chair. Popsicles didn't do the trick, neither did a sippy full of juice. We had to resort to the laptop which he LOVES as do all kids! Ry set up a movie for him, but then he just kept leaning forward to reach for it. We eventually just moved the table right on up to him and this kid has never been happier! All in all, cute pictures of him on a laptop, huh?

This is by far my favorite. Nice picture Ry!

And this is the best 'after' picture we could get. A little more tammed, don't you think? :) Yay for cute boys!

fun at the zoo

I went to the zoo with some friends the other day and we decided to make it a weekly play date. Oh I love a zoo pass. It's a beautiful thing.

thank you ryan

I love you too!

4 happy years

From our first date ...

To our wedding day (August 6, 2005) ...

To graduation ...

To medical school ...

To parenthood ...

To today ...

4 years of adventures and I can't wait for more!

Love ya Ry!

visitors

Last week my brother and his family came out to visit! It was so nice of them to drive the 8 1/2 hour trip - and we asked ourselves why we don't do this more often! We loved hanging out with them, and had a great time visiting. Here's a few of my favorite pictures to document the week:

in love

L is absolutely in love with water. Always has been. He's a natural.

I love his open mouth smiles. And he makes my heart smile.

15 months

L had a check up this morning, and it made me a little nastalgic of those monthly posts when I would document all the new things he was doing. I did a mini version of one a couple weeks ago, but there were a few additions that I did not want to forget.

Current Stats:

24 lbs 10 oz -- 50% (I think he's more, but oh well)

32 1/2 in. long -- 80%

19 in head cir. -- 75%

Recents Favs:

Loves to go get Mommy's shoes for her when he wants to go outside

Loves to find his own shoes, bring them to Mommy, turn around, and sit down on her lap for her to help put his shoes on when he wants to go outside

Tickle everyone by patting them REALLY hard (on the face, arms, belly, shoulders, anywhere)

Still no verbal communication ... the doctor today said if he still doesn't have more than a couple words in three months (by the 18 month check up) she'll suggest a speach therapist. WHAT?! Ugh ... common L, you can do it!!

{side note: I don't have anything against speach therapists - in fact, I went to one as a kid! I think they are fabulous. I just feel like L is a little young! Maybe that's the point ...}

Try to turn door knobs

Has two molars that are in - two more on the way. Talk about a painful experience - for all of us!

Constantly tries to open the fridge and stand there for as long as he can before I come and give him a stern no while trying to redirect his attention - we have tried all sorts of obstacles in the way of the fridge ... nothing but the gate works.

Flushing toilets (ugh ....)

Climbing in and out of the tub - doing the one that I always don't want him to do at the time

We played at the bunny fountains today (pictured above) and I have never seen L so excited for water before. It was so fun to watch him run around yelling and smiling as big as he could. He loved trying to catch the water shooting up, steping on the holes, trying to drink it as it came up, and running over the row of spraying water. He would step just close enough to let the water get his hat wet and just laugh! It was sooo cute!! He's so happy! I love it! I love this stage and being able to play with him.

the new girl in town

My fabulous sister and her fam have officially moved to the great state of OH-IO! Yay!!

They moved here a couple weeks ago - and my parents came out to help with the move. Then Dave & Angela decided to come out as well, so we had two full houses of the Adamsons!! It was a lot of fun spending time and working with everyone (missing those who were not here ....) and much to the laughter of my siblings, I put some use to my degree and managed a little bit of recreation for the family to enjoy (just for you Dave!)! :) We chose to go up to the Alum Creek State Park and play on the beach with kids. So fun! Of course, we didn't manage to get a picture of everyone together ... but here are a few I took while playing in the water.

I am so excited to have family a mere 7 minutes away from me! How did we get so lucky?!

hocking hills

This past weekend we drove down to Hocking Hills in Ohio to go camping with some friends. It was a lot of fun and we definitely want to go back and explore a little more! The camping spot was fabulous, the food superb, and the company delightful! I had really low expections for L (sleeping, eating, staying away from the campfire, not wanting to ride in the backpack carrier, etc.) ... but the entire weekend I was just pleasantly surprised with how well he did! Does happiness always come from such low expectations?!

It was a vacation away from life that R & I desparately needed and it definitely recharged our batteries. There's nothing like being outdoors in God's creations to give you perspective and a desire to be a little better for one another. This trip reminded me how much I LOVE having fun as a family and that I need to find ways to do that even when we are at home! Here's some pictures of our trip - enjoy!

recent favorites

Loves to dance, stick his tongue out, give LOTS of hugs to Mommy & Daddy, be tickled anywhere, hug other babies, run up to Mommy and hug her legs, drink out of water bottles and take the lid on and off, hold his bear and sippy cup all day, be outside walking and watching cars drive by, yell at the top of his lungs while walking up and down the halls at church, read books to himself

Sings (errr ... likes to listen to us sing) & does the actions to (sort-of): Here's a ball for baby, Popcorn popping, Wheels on the Bus, Do as I'm Doing, Eensy Weensy Spider

Plays peek-a-boo with curtains, in the grass outside, patty-cake, with blocks and builds towers, with balls and throws them all over the place, on playgrounds & slides, with rocks on the sidewalk, with Mommy/Daddy's shoes

Climbs on the couch, up the stairs, the beanbag to play the piano, Mommy's legs, on his new Ikea chair

Signs 'all done' -- that's it. Although we've been working on others for a long time

Says uh-uh-uh-uh-uh for EVERYTHING & lots of other nonsense sounds that only he can understand and gets REALLY mad at Mom when she has no clue what he is referring to. Talk about frustrating ... I dispise guessing games ...

Eats any fruit especially grapes, crackers, cheese, pasta is a favorite - any kind, fruit snacks, animal crackers, chicken noodle soup, apples only when he can hold them and bite into them